Residents in Mill o’ Mains have hit out after National Express Dundee told the city council it intends to withdraw the vast majority of its main bus service journeys to the housing estate from next month.
The bus company has informed the council it has submitted plans to the traffic commissioner to withdraw the number 36 from an hourly bus service that connects Claverhouse, Mill o’ Mains, Linlathen and Mid Craigie with the city centre.
Only a handful of journeys will remain after the change on October 20, The Courier can reveal.
Members of Mill o’ Mains Tenants and Residents’ Association (MOMTRA) are due to meet on Tuesday night to discuss the latest bombshell to hit their bus service.
Meanwhile, councillors on the city development committee have contacted John Berry, the council’s sustainable transport team leader, over the situation.
Jim Malone from MOMTRA said: “Mill o’ Mains residents will be disgusted and angry at this decision. There has been no consultation with residents.
“The 36 service is a well-used service, the estate’s elderly residents will be extremely concerned as to their ability to travel to Stobswell or the city centre.
“The 36 route provides a link through Mill o’ Mains, Linlathan, Mid Craigie and Claverhouse. These areas are already recognised as areas faced with severe social problems, so to remove a public service is, frankly, a disgrace.”
In a communication to the committee, Mr Berry told councillors: “National Express have intimated that the last morning bus towards the city centre will leave Claverhouse at 06.55 and there will be a single city centre afternoon departure at 17.20.
“There will be no journeys between these times. The service reductions will take effect on 20 October 2014.
“Service 36 received funding from the Bus Route Development Grant between August 2009 and August 2012.
“It was hoped that this funding would allow the service to re-establish itself as a commercial operation.
“Although the service has continued until 2014, National Express Dundee management have now indicated that the service is not commercially viable in its current hourly format.”
He said other services will still be available.
The community group called an emergency meeting on Friday and a special meeting on Tuesday is to be attended by National Express managing director Philip Smith.
Local councillor Brian Gordon said he will be calling on the company to withdraw its plans until it has consulted with the local community.
He said: “It is only six weeks away and I am very disappointed not only for the company withdrawing the service but for doing it without any consultation.
“I hope the residents fight this tooth and nail.”
He said National Express should cross-subsidise its own services with more profitable routes in order to serve all communities.
A spokeswoman for the bus company said: “Changing local travel patterns have required us to review and alter some routes.
“While some areas will see increased services, unfortunately these changes will also mean that buses will no longer travel as extensively through Mill o’ Mains.
“We have worked hard to minimise the impact on our customers while making sure our services reflect changing travel patterns. We apologise for any inconvenience these changes cause.”